





Las Vegas Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

The rambling desert roads of Nevada and the crowded streets of Las Vegas attract motorcyclists who enjoy the open roads and can zoom around traffic. Yet congested highways and rural roads aren’t always safe for motorcyclists. Other drivers, dangerous roadway obstacles, and hazards unique to motorcyclists put riders at risk. Las Vegas motorcycle accident attorneys at Claggett & Sykes Law Firm, we’ve represented clients with serious to catastrophic injuries from motorcycle accidents. We know how to fight for maximum compensation in any accident situation. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to run them by our Las Vegas motorcycle accident lawyers, we will give you and your family a free consultation and help you proceed with your claim. We are available to take your calls 24/7.

Contact our Las Vegas Motorcycle Accident Lawyers 24/7

  • Claggett & Sykes Law Firm has won more than $200 Million for our clients and has a history of succeeding in major trials.
  • We offer free consultations and are available to take your call 24/7
  • Our accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will pay no fees unless we win.
  • Schedule your free consultation by giving us a call at  (702) 333-7777 or filling out a contact form online describing your case.

Common Injuries From Motorcycle Crashes

According to NHTSA statistics, motorcyclists are much more prone to injury and death compared to people in vehicles. The lack of protection surrounding their bodies leaves them vulnerable to serious motorcycle accident injuries. There are five common motorcyclist injury types.

  • Road Rash: Road rash occurs when a motorcyclist lays down his or her bike, skidding across the road. This causes skin damage, cuts, and bruises, referred to as road rash. When a road rash injury occurs, it is important to seek medical help. Although the cuts may seem minor or superficial, pavement is notoriously dirty and can cause infection. Road rash can also cause permanent nerve damage near the surface of the skin.
  • Leg Injuries: Motorcycle safety courses teach riders to tuck their legs in and squeeze the bike if a crash is about to occur. Human reaction during a motorcycle accident is to extend legs to prevent a fall, which results in broken and injured legs. Often, legs are the first body part to hit the ground and receive the brunt of the injury.
  • Broken Bones: If a motorcyclist lays down or is thrown from his or her bike, there is a good chance of broken bone injuries. Hands, feet, limbs, and the back are all commonly injured from broken bones during accidents. Much of the body is unprotected during a wreck, which causes impact fractures when a rider collides with the ground.
  • Spinal Cord Injuries: Injuries to the spinal cord are severe and can be permanent. Bikers in collisions or thrown from bikes are at risk for twisting and damaging spinal cords. There are thousands of nerves in a person’s spinal cord, which makes this injury especially difficult to treat.
  • Head Injuries: Nevada has a helmet law, but many motorcyclists ignore it. Head injury is the number one injury in motorcycle accidents. Wearing a helmet is a wonderful protective measure to keep your head safe and can mean the difference between living and dying. If you are a motorcyclist, always wear your helmet.

Las Vegas Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Factors That Can Contribute to Motorcycle Crashes

Motorcycle accidents, like auto accidents, can occur at any time in any weather conditions. Although motorcycle accidents are not more common than car accidents, motorcyclist accidents are more likely to kill or seriously injure someone in an accident. Motorcycle enthusiasts must understand safety issues and learn the circumstances that increase the likelihood of an accident. Many situations can make the road more dangerous for motorcycle riders.

  • Road Hazards: With a motorcycle balancing on two wheels, the chances of bad road conditions causing an accident greatly increase. When a vehicle runs over a pothole, chances are good there will be no adverse effects. If a motorcyclist runs over a pothole, the effects can be deadly. Other road hazards that can contribute to motorcycle accidents include uneven road surfaces, debris in the roadway, wet pavement, and animals. 
  • Bad Weather: When inclement weather is in the forecast, motorcyclists should use alternate means of transportation. Sometimes, a storm catches a motorcyclist and he or she is left to navigate their bike in less-than-favorable conditions. Rain, snow, sleet, and hail are dangerous for riders. Bad weather will cause poor visibility, wet roads, and vehicle drivers who cannot see motorcyclists.
  • Speed: Speeding involving the motorcyclist or those operating vehicles around the motorcyclist is extremely dangerous. Increased speeds reduce reaction times for all drivers, creating a dangerous environment for everyone. Motorcyclists are not enclosed in metal as vehicle drivers are, so if a motorcyclist is involved in a high-speed crash, the chances for survival are severely diminished. All drivers must abide by posted speed limits for safety. 
  • Alcohol Use : Drinking and driving is a serious safety hazard for every driver. Alcohol will diminish a motorcyclist’s reaction times, balance, and coordination. The same is true for vehicle drivers under the influence. Alcohol use increases the likelihood of collisions for everyone on the road but is more dangerous for motorcyclists.
  • Lane-Splitting: When a motorcyclist drives between two lanes of traffic, it is lane-splitting. Lane-splitting means the motorcyclist is in closer proximity to cars and has significantly less reaction time. Lane-splitting is not legal in Nevada, although some motorcyclists may ignore the law. Whether cars are stopped or moving, it’s against the law for riders to drive between them. 

Who Is Responsible for Your Damages?

The first question on your mind after a motorcycle crash may be, “Who will pay for my damages?” You may have hospital bills from medical treatments, lost wages, property damage, and other accident-related expenses, on top of personal damages such as physical pain and emotional suffering. There may be an individual or entity legally responsible for compensating you. Nevada is a fault state, meaning the person at fault for the accident is liable to pay for damages. Yet the question of fault is not always black and white.

In many motorcycle collision claims, the defendant (the party allegedly responsible) may argue the motorcyclist contributed to his or her own injuries. For example, speeding, weaving through traffic, or unlawfully not wearing a helmet can contribute to an accident and/or injuries. If you were partially at fault for the crash or your resultant injuries, don’t assume you’re ineligible for financial recovery. Nevada law abides by contributory negligence laws, which enables plaintiffs to recover as long as they are less than 51% responsible for the accident.

How Much is Your Case Worth in Las Vegas?

It’s important for any plaintiff in a motorcycle accident case to know the difference between the settlement value of the case and the potential trial value. Many personal injury lawsuits end before they even reach trial; the two parties conduct settlement negotiations to reach a mutually agreeable solution to the issue. If the two parties cannot agree, then the case proceeds to trial. Defendants typically wish to settle these matters quickly and avoid trial if possible, and a plaintiff has the incentive to work through negotiations to avoid the risk of losing in a trial.

The settlement value of a case is likely much lower than the potential trial value, but the plaintiff must have a solid case before proceeding to trial. If not, the plaintiff runs the risk of absorbing some fault for the accident. Nevada follows a pure comparative negligence law, meaning a plaintiff loses a portion of his or her settlement or case award equal to his or her percentage of fault for the incident in question. For example, a plaintiff found 10% at fault in a $10,000 claim would lose 10% of the case award for a final total of $9,000 instead.

Economic vs. Non-Economic Damages

Damages in motorcycle accident lawsuits fall into two categories: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are generally easy to prove and involve things like repair or replacement costs of damaged property and medical expenses. The plaintiff must provide documentation that not only proves the extent of his or her economic damages, but also proof that those damages were the direct result of the defendant’s negligence and not some other cause.

Non-economic damages work differently in motorcycle accident cases. These can involve things like pain and suffering, or loss of affection or consortium in a case for a fatal accident. Since there is no firm way to calculate the monetary value of things like physical pain and emotional suffering, most courts use the plaintiff’s claimed medical expenses and other economic damages as a starting point.

For example, a plaintiff suffered catastrophic injuries in a car accident resulting in $50,000 worth of medical expenses and permanent disability, preventing the plaintiff from working again. In this case, the jury may decide to multiply the plaintiff’s economic damages by a factor of three, resulting in $150,000 in pain and suffering damages.

Other courts may use a “per diem” rule for pain and suffering. In such a case, the jury will assign a certain value per day the plaintiff experiences pain and suffering after an accident, and the plaintiff recovers compensation for every day until he or she reaches maximum recovery.

How is My Compensation Calculated?

Many Nevada motorcycle accidents result in serious injuries that prevent victims from returning to work during recovery. Accidents resulting in permanent disability can prevent a victim from returning to work at all. In these cases, the court will determine a fair amount of compensation based on the plaintiff’s typical regular wages. For example, a plaintiff could provide past pay stubs that show he received about $2,000 per week in regular wages over the past year. If his injury required ten weeks of recovery, this would equal $20,000 in lost wage compensation.

Calculating lost future earning capacity is a bit more complex. The plaintiff’s attorney may need to consult with economic or financial experts who can testify as to the plaintiff’s total lost earning capacity if he or she cannot return to the same job or work at all following the accident. These experts willcalculate how much the plaintiff would have received for the duration of his or her work life expectancy, or the amount of time one could reasonably estimate the plaintiff would have been able to work in the future had the accident not occurred.

Schedule a Free Consultation with our Las Vegas Motorcycle accident Attorneys

Our Las Vegas Accident attorneys at Claggett & Sykes Law Firm can investigate your crash and help you identify the most likely defendant to name. We will deal with the insurance company and help you recover your damages from the medical care, and bodily injuries you have encountered. Contact us today for a free evaluation, our phone lines are open 24/7. You can also start a chat with our team to get a free case evaluation.


“Claggett & Sykes Law Firm is THE absolute best! They are extremely professional, thorough with every detail, and consistently keep you informed of each progression of your case. Their team of lawyers, especially Jennifer M. and Christian A., go above and beyond; their customer service is Amazing and I highly recommend them!”

-Michelle O.
